Apparatus for producing literature for use by the blind.



No. 6&2J39. Patented Jan. 30, I900. W. LITTLEWOOD.

I APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING LITERATURE FOR USE BY THE BLIND.

(Application filed Feb. 1, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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INVENTOR Q @Zwwm Nrrhn Sia'rns 'ATENT OFFICE.

TVATIFER LIT'TEWOOD, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO GREEVZ FISHER, OF LEEDS, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING LlTERATURE FOR USE BY THE BLIND.

SPEOIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,139, dated January 30, 1900.

Application filed February 1, 1899. Serial No. 704,204. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it 12mg concern: .an enlarged end elevation of a part of the ap Be it known that l, WALTER LITTLEWOOD, paratus in section on line a; as, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, re is a plan of guide-frame. Fig. 10 is a side siding at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaselevation of guide-frame. Fig. 11 is an ele- 5 ter, England, have invented certain new and vation of pin, greatly enlarged. Fig. 12 is a useful Improvements in Apparatus for Proface plan showing a modified arrangement of ducing Literature for Use by the Blind, of theperforations,pits,andindents,theindents which the following is a specification. being placed between the perforations to The object of this invention is to provide produce a closer writing, termed inter- 1o apparatus for producing or printing literpointed.

ary matter in the Braille character or nota- Two plates of metal A and B, of brass or tion of reading and writing or any other sysother metal suitably tempered, are employed, tem in which raised or embossed dots are each of a superficial area suited to the size of used and which dots are read by the sense sheet to be embossed or printed with a mar- 15 of touch. Such apparatus is so designed as gin of about one inch or so all around and to enable the setting up and embossing to about one-eighth orone-fourteenth of an inch be done by the blind. Heretofore the emin thickness. embossing or printing of sheets in the Braille In each plate A and B as designed for emor point system has been from embossed bossing both sides of a sheet simultaneously 20 metal plates punched bya hand-tool, or each are formed holes a and pits 1) (small cupped paper sheet has been written or embossed bya recesses) in alternate sets of rows-namely, style by hand dot by dot and letter by letter. one set of rows of holes a and one set of rows By this invention the matter is first set up of pits b. The rows of holes a in one plate in complete form and the embossing or printare arranged opposite to the rows of pits b on 25 ing of an entire sheet of brass or paper is efthe face of the other plate.

fected at one impression. For plates designed for embossing one side The invention consists, essentially, of two of a sheet one plate will be formed with holes plates of metal, with alternate rows of holes a only and the other with pits I) only; but it and indents arranged in accordance with the is customary in the Braille system to print o Braille or point system, the holes in one plate or emboss both sides of the sheet in alternate corresponding to or being complementary to rows. the indents or pits in the other, a number The holes a and pits b in the plates A and of headed pins for insertion in the holes of B are formed or arranged in groups of six the plates, and two outer plates or presses to correspond with the six dots of the Braille 35 against which the heads of the pins rest and characters.

by which the perforated plates and pins are A number of pressers or points consistpressed together for the purpose of printing. ing of small pins 0 of metal, with rounded It will be fully described with reference to points of equal length,are provided to be fitted the accompanying drawings. into the holes a in one or other, or both, of the 40 Figure 1 is a face view of the upper pair of plates A and B from the back. The pressers plates, the space within the dotted lines repor pins 0 are formed with a small head or enresenting the portion drilled with holes and largement c on one end to prevent them passpits or indents. Fig. 2 is a similar face View ing through the holes a farther than the deof the lower pair of plates. Fig. 3 is'a view sired amount of projection, as shown in Figs. 5 4.5 of back of one of the outer plates. Fig. 4 is 8 and 11.

a view of back of one of the inner or perfo- The pins or pressers O are slightly longer rated plates. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of than the thickness of the plates and are inthe apparatus in position forprinting or use. serted into the holes a in the plates A and B Fig. 6 is an end elevation of same. Fig. 7 is from the back and project through for a short I00 50 an enlarged detail face view of part of one of distance on the face to form the characters to bottom inner or perforated plates. Fig. 8 is be embossed, and the operation is carried on from right to left of the plates,so that when reversed the characters read from left to right. The projecting points of the pins represent the Braille characters.

Behind or at the back of each of the two plates A and B is fitted or secured a back plate D and E, which rest against the heads of the pins and lock or retain them in position. The points then all project a uniform height beyond the surface of the plate, into the holes a of which they have been inserted.

To the back of the plates and B are attached a number of studs d, placed in convenient position to cause the back plates D and E to bear uniformly and with an even pressure over the heads 0 of the pins 0, and

a number of guide-pins 6 project from one of the inner perforated plates A and B and engage with holes in the other to secure correct register when the two plates are brought face to face, and two or more similar guide-pins 6 project from one of the back plates D or E and engage with holes in the other to keep them in position. The guide-pins e are preferably placed at one edge of the plates and also serve as a stop or gage for the sheets G, of paper or other material,as they are inserted.

On one of the plates, preferably on the lower inner one B, are placed two springs F to raise and maintainthe plates out of contact for the insertion of the sheets G and to separate them after each sheet has been embossed. The springs F are of a kind that do not raise the upper plate sufficiently high to allow it to get out of place.

In operation a weight or pressure is applied to the plates to bring them into contact, and the sheet is embossed by the pins-O projecting from the holes a in one plate A or B entering the pits or indents b in the opposite plate B or A. The pressure may be applied by screw, spring, or other pressing device which presses the two plates evenly and firmly together.

To facilitate the settingof the pins 0 in the holes by the blind, a movable gage I-I similar to that employed for Writing Braille characters by hand may be employed to extend across either plate A or B and comprising a single row of interstices h. One interstice corresponds to or agrees with a set of six holes a. The gage H is held temporarily by stud K and holes 70, and each interstice h is provided with six notches, corresponding with the holes a in the plates A and B and serving to guide the pins into such holes.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

In apparatus for printing or embossing sheets of literature for the use of the blind the combination with two plates A and B perforated and pitted at a and b to correspond with the Braille characters of a number of embossing-pins O for insertion in the perforations or from the back of the plate, the heads 0 on the pins 0 to prevent them passing through the plates, two back platesD andE clamped to the plates A and B to lock or maintain the embossing-pins C in position the studs d aflixed thereto guide-pins e projecting from one plate to the other and springs F to raise and maintain the plates out of contact substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 14th day of January, 1899.

WALTER LITTLEXVOOD.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH F. OBRIEN, HERBERT BRADLEY. 

